What to expect in Valley Stream in 2019

A rendering of the Promenade apartments, which are expected to be completed in March.

Courtesy Bill Kefalas

Students will be able to 3D-print projects for school once the MakerSpace room at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library opens this month.

Peter Belfiore/Herald

By Melissa Koenig

The New Year will bring several big changes to Valley Stream as construction of new apartment buildings continues and developers seek approval for still newer ones, at the same time that village facilities are upgraded.

The Promenade apartments, on North Central Avenue, are expected to be completed in March, according to Bill Kefalas, principal and founder of Manhattan-based Kay Development. The project comprises 31 two-bedroom and 13 one-bedroom apartments, and will feature an enclosed garage, 24-hour concierge service, a recreational terrace, a tenant lounge, a gym and a laundry facility.

Also in March, developer Alex Rivero, president of Cedarhurst-based Paramount Construction, said he hopes to receive permits to build 12 townhouses at Wallace Court and Payan Avenue, after which construction would begin and, he hopes, be complete by October.

In March, the village is scheduled to unveil its new $5.5 million waste transfer station at Arlington Yard, which will allow the village to process its own garbage rather than send it to a facility in Inwood, according to Mayor Ed Fare. The village funded construction of the station with an $8.7 million bond last year. “It will provide savings on everything — time, money and the environment,” Fare said.

Soon, residents will be able to take advantage of the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library’s new MakerSpace, which funded largely by grants, will open to the public later in January. The room will feature a 3D printer, laminators, microscopes and programmable robots that will be used for library programs. Children can also use the equipment for school projects. Appointments to use the equipment will be required, according to Library Director Mamie Eng.

“The reason we have this room is because we want to encourage the kids to ask, ‘What’s that? What’s going on?’” Eng explained.

The Village Green may also be getting a makeover starting in 2019, as village officials move forward with plans to develop facilities on the green. To begin, Mayor Ed Fare said the village board plans to send out a Request for Proposals to build a cultural arts center at the old courthouse in Village Hall in the spring. The center would work in conjunction with the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library and would be modeled after the theater at the Elmont Memorial Library, which holds concerts, plays and lectures. “We’d like to have a similar thing,” Fare said.

He added that construction of the planned cultural arts center would be relatively quick because the room for it is already handicapped-accessible and equipped with an HVAC system. Once construction is complete, Fare said, the village board plans to send out Request for Proposals to operate the center, because the village does not have the personnel to run programs.

Further down the Village Green, Fare said, he would like to have a corporate sponsor build a playground next to the dog park.

Town of Hempstead officials expect a vinyl bulkhead at Hook Creek in the village to be completed in the spring. Town officials also plan to use $3.7 million from the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery to develop a tidal wetland and install elevated berms and check valves to reduce the risk of flooding in the area.

What to do in 2019

The New Year will also feature a wide array of events for Valley Streamers to enjoy. Community Fest Committee board members have already begun to discuss plans for the village’s annual Community Fest on Sept. 28, when residents will once again gather on Rockaway Avenue to celebrate all that is Valley Stream. “It takes hours and hours of planning,” said Debbi Gyulay, a Community Fest committee member. “It’s huge.”

The Historical Society is also preparing special events for 2019 in addition to its meetings on the third Tuesday of each month. In February, members of the Historical Society will don costumes to bring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to life. In June, the group will elect its officers, and guests will be able to enjoy cream and strawberries.

Teenagers in grades seven to 12 will also have the opportunity to join the Valley Stream Youth Council. The council is a community-service group that takes part in a cleanup of Hendrickson Park, a car-wash fundraiser and a toy drive. “We want to create different programs to keep kids off the street,” said Ken Heino, the Youth Board president.

Children who are interested in scouting can join one of Valley Stream’s scouting groups, which offer a variety of activities throughout the year. In February, members of Cub Scout Pack 367 will race cars at its annual Pinewood Derby. Then, in March, the scouts will celebrate the leaders and parents who volunteer for the Cub Scouts at Pack 367’s Blue and Gold Ceremony. Every Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Girl Scout unit will also camp together at Valley Stream’s annual Camporee in June.

For a list of upcoming events in the area, see the Herald’s community calendar on p. 10.